10 Craziest Things Vince McMahon Has Ever Said To Wrestlers

8. Chris Jericho: Toilet Paper Champion

VINCE RICK RUDE
WWE

Chris Jericho, as has been repeated to us almost 1,000 times on WWE programming, once defeated Steve Austin and The Rock in one night in order to capture the WWE Undisputed World Title. Obviously, this was a stunning show of faith by the Chairman.

You get to job for Triple H, Chris, isn't that amazing?

Snark aside, he was entrusted to get Trips over in the 'Mania main and build interest in the biggest show of the year. Jericho must have been delighted, particularly since his early "This guy thinks he's too big for his boots, so let's put lifts in them as a sadistically ironic punishment" WWF run didn't forecast a moment like it. That delight soured when Vince McMahon, on the day of Vengeance 2001, remarked to Jericho, in front of The Undertaker, "How do you know the business is going down the toilet? Because we're putting the belt on Jericho".

What was probably a rib - he did put the title on him - scans as something more cruel when one considers that this version of Jericho wasn't the polymath genius, Wednesday-stealing 'Le Champion'. He wasn't a proven draw, and looking at the year that was 2001, business pretty much was trending towards the old sh*tter there.

A flash of buyer's remorse, or good-natured rib?

Triple H saved the day, so all's well that ends well, regardless.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!